To even begin to divine the reasons behind this 12-year-old bride’s decision to drop her request for a divorce would be utter speculation. Thus, I’ll let the story unfold further. If it does.
12-year-old bride drops petition for divorce
Walaa Hawari | Arab NewsRIYADH: A 12-year-old girl who was married off to an 80-year-old man in Buraidah has dropped her request for a divorce just one day before a court hearing to annul the marriage.
A source at the Human Rights Commission (HRC) said the girl, her mother and legal representative came to court and withdrew the request.
The girl failed to appear in court on Monday when the hearing was originally supposed to be heard. Her legal representative did not provide a valid reason for her absence.
The HRC, which had formed a committee to investigate the marriage, was stunned that the girl had dropped her request. “No one really knows the real reason behind the change of heart,” said the source, adding that although the HRC cannot interfere in people’s personal lives, it would continue lobbying for a minimum marriage age.
…
Saudi Gazette/Okaz also reports that the girl’s mother has withdrawn her civil law suit against the girl’s husband. Its report includes the fact that the decision surprised the judge who was to rule on the divorce.
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February:02:2010 - 11:24
This is not only shocking, it is also highly unfortunate that this should happen just when the marriage was going to be annulled. The news report makes one wonder if there has been a trade off between the parents of the girl. It is important to note that the mother has asked the cases against her to be dropped and she wants the custody of the son – which was perhaps the aim all along. The girl may have been placated by giving her the chance to study further – how much she will study only the future will tell. But one who has actually gained in this entire affair is the mother. It seems the welfare of the girl was never in the mind of either parent.
One wonders if there has also been intimidation or conciliatory offers from the 80 yrs old groom.
February:02:2010 - 11:47
As I said, there are many possible explanations, but without further information it’s impossible to decide which one is correct.
February:02:2010 - 12:00
The man will die in about 5-7 yrs time, leaving his 4 young wives as widows. I wonder what prospects they all will have then. I don’t know why people have children if they don’t care about them.
February:02:2010 - 12:09
Guilt trips I suspect made her change her mind…Perhaps a father’s guilt trip. I say why the 85,000 dowry. Why not take like 5,000 or even 500. That is so much more blessed. Allah who akbar; Allah who akbar; Allah who akbar;
I think this is direct challenge! I say whatever let the girl decide let her live with her decision even at the age of 12. I am sure she is free from any coercion from adults who are looking into her best interests. I am trying to remember what I wanted to do at age 12. I wanted to see how cool it was to pee in the great outdoors. I also thought it would be cool to throw rocks through people’s windows and prank call doctors telling them my dentures feel into a toilet and that now my gums have turned green. I couldn’t imagine putting my daughter into a room at 12 with any aged man and expecting her to drop her pants and spread her legs in the name of God. Very lovely! Congrats to all involved. Job well done.
February:02:2010 - 13:27
Sparsky’s way of expressing her feelings is as surprising as ever but how can one react to such a surprising change of mind ?
February:02:2010 - 14:22
Bonjour Michel. That post is filled with a lot of sarcasm which cannot come through. Like Allah who akbar means I am screaming Allah Who Akbar at the fanatics. I will ALLAH WHO AKBAR THEM!
So fanatics I have to AWAT them. I do not believe the girl is making her own decision free of coercion. I do believe in empowering children as I do women but to an extent. Parents still have their roles to play. I believe the mother wants to protect her child and the father wants to get rid of his nuissance of a daughter and collect 85,000. I still advocate women hitting their husbands over the head with frying pans when they can’t be reasoned with after many attempts of course.
For the record, (my record is clean) I really didn’t throw rocks through people’s windows. I was actually the one telling people/ friens, “Please don’t do it.” Yes, I enjoyed peeing outdoors and no my family didn’t condone it. The good news is that I have outgrown that urge. It might have been before age 12 lol, and yes I did prank call people at the age. I loved doing that!
February:02:2010 - 14:40
I find this reversal highly predictable and not surprising in the least.
The HRC is wisely investing energy in getting a minimum age for consent to marriage law, which would help this girl retroactively and do preventive good for others.
February:02:2010 - 14:54
Humour is intended at “hitting over the head with a frying pan”…really don’t do it unless you are defending your life. I am sure you will regret it if you do do it.
I can see how one would be so tempted to do it especially when all other peaceful avenues have been exhausted. Most Saudi women would probably just tragically end their own lives rather that hurt someone else. That is tragic in and of itself.
The HRC needs to grow balls!
February:02:2010 - 15:02
February:02:2010 - 22:05
Sparky,
God save your husband if you ever went into that mood! I hope you don’t have big frying pans in your house.
February:02:2010 - 22:50
Well actually Daisy a lot of my rights were won in physical battles! Not joking there
I give the evil chuckle and most people back off…
February:03:2010 - 07:54
In Islam you must embrace the faith when you are old enough to make that decision (after puberty). If Islam requires you to make a commitment as an adult (post puberty) then that is the de-facto age of consent. This girl is not old enough to officially embrace Islam as somebody of sound mind, then the same should apply to this situation.
This changes nothing . The girl’s father is a criminal and the husband is a sexual predator of girls, and the legal system is enabling this evil for which all involved should go to hell.
February:03:2010 - 11:58
From what has happened, I suspect the mother is also a criminal. Crime against women is often fostered by women themselves.
February:03:2010 - 13:45
Yeah, I read after I wrote above that it was the mother who dropped the complaint.
This is CRAZY!!!!!! This is not something “that takes time” (I’m so sick of hearing that as an apology for how long it takes to institute change in KSA) — this is a crime and the mother’s choice (or even the girl’s) is no longer valid. And if I hear anyone say it’s a woman’s rights thing if she wants to drop the complaint I’m going to scream.
Stop enabling pedophiles you weirdos!!!! FULL STOP.
(OK, I’m done with my screed.)
February:08:2010 - 22:40
The withdrawal of the case doesn’t stand. It is going to be tried in court –
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7019754.ece